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2nd place Collective Portfolio Award

Henley Spiers Philippines

The face of a Tiger Cardinalfish, open-mouthed, with sharp teeth protruding, and eggs within, is captured within a wave of blue. “Cardinalfish are famous mouth-brooders, with the male responsible for guarding the eggs until they are ready to hatch,” says photographer Henley Spiers. “I have long been fascinated by this behaviour and spent a long time earning sufficient trust from this cardinalfish to allow me to capture this image.”

All of Henley's Collective Portfolio Award entry

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1-2-scaled

BEHIND THE LENS

ABOUT THE IMAGE

  • Calm conditions
  • Taken while scuba diving
  • Site accessed by boat
  • 20m underwater visibility

An olive ridley turtle rests peacefully on the sea bed as it is manicured by an eager group of reef fish. “Turtle shells are often populated by epibionts, or tiny ocean hitchhikers,” says photographer Henley Spiers. “Should their presence grow too great, the turtle will be uncomfortably encumbered. Turtles will on occasion recruit the services of fish, who feed on these epibionts in a mutually beneficial, symbiotic relationship.”

3-2-scaled

BEHIND THE LENS

ABOUT THE IMAGE

  • Early evening, sunset
  • Taken while scuba diving
  • Shot on expedition
  • 27 degrees Celsius water temperature

Fish scatter as a nurse shark makes its way through the shoal. “The school of fish was so dense I had to guess when the nurse shark might peek through, using a slow shutter and spinning the camera to create a frame which reminds me of the dynamic motion in that moment,” says photographer Henley Spiers.

 

4-2-scaled

BEHIND THE LENS

ABOUT THE IMAGE

  • Took 60 hours to capture this image
  • Taken while snorkelling
  • Calm conditions
  • Mid-morning

Striped marlin and sea lion compete for food on a deadly ocean highway. “For a few months every year, upwellings deliver nutritionally rich waters which are the starting point for a spectacular hunt, bringing hundreds of striped marlin together,” says photographer Henley Spiers. “They must often compete with California sea lions for the prey, with both animals bringing a distinctive character to the chase.”

 

8-2-scaled

BEHIND THE LENS

ABOUT THE IMAGE

  • Taken while scuba diving
  • Morning shoot
  • Calm conditions
  • Site accessed by boat

A school of uniquely patterned spotted eagle rays. “Scientists have just recently confirmed that the spotting on each ray is a unique identifier, the equivalent of a human fingerprint,” says photographer Henley Spiers. “I love how black and white reinforces that uniqueness, keenly displaying the distinctive spotting, as well as the subtle shading differences between each individual.”

 

10-2-scaled

BEHIND THE LENS

ABOUT THE IMAGE

  • Overcast conditions
  • Shore walk-in
  • Mid-morning
  • 15 degrees Celsius water temperature

Two tompot blennies engage in a ferocious battle over mating rights. “I went in search of these charismatic fish and encountered one with the ornate, blue facial markings designed to attract a partner,” says photographer Henley Spiers. “To my surprise, he was soon joined by another male and they started tussling. At one point, the dust settled and they remained motionless, jaws locked together, exhausted by the fight.”

 

7-2-scaled

BEHIND THE LENS

ABOUT THE IMAGE

  • Shore walk-in
  • Taken while scuba diving
  • Late afternoon
  • Calm conditions

A False Clown Anemonefish looks apprehensive about the looming presence of a Great Barracuda in the background. “In reality, ‘Nemo’ has little to fear, as he is a little too small to be of interest to the barracuda, and he benefits from the protection of stinging anemone tentacles even if it did come to that,” says photographer Henley Spiers.

6-2-scaled

BEHIND THE LENS

ABOUT THE IMAGE

  • 25 hours to capture this image
  • Taken while scuba diving
  • Flat, calm conditions
  • 28 degrees Celsius water temperature

The long tentacles of a jellyfish trail behind as it swims close to the surface. “I am fascinated by the image opportunities just beneath the surface, where the interplay between the elements of water and air is so keenly felt,” says photographer Henley Spiers. “On this occasion, I was excited to find a jellyfish bloom as we surfaced from our dive, as they undoubtedly have a graceful beauty which accompanies their painful threat.”

 

9-2-scaled

BEHIND THE LENS

ABOUT THE IMAGE

  • Late afternoon
  • Taken while scuba diving
  • Site accessed by boat
  • Taken on expedition

A cormorant dives down onto its prey. “Ten metres down, I found myself hovering between two worlds. Below, an enormous school of fish covered the bottom as far as I could see,” says photographer Henley Spiers. “Above, a cormorant patrolled the surface, peering down at a potential underwater feast. This image captures the hostile, black silhouette of the cormorant as it dives down onto its prey, who for a brief moment, remain unaware of the danger above.”

 

5-2-scaled

BEHIND THE LENS

ABOUT THE IMAGE

  • Freshwater shoot
  • Midday
  • Taken while scuba diving
  • 25 degrees Celsius water temperature

“The spectacular underside of these water lilies, found in a pond where taxi drivers used to wash their cars, can only be appreciated by diving below,” says photographer Henley Spiers. “Underwater, their vibrant pink hues are revealed, attached to stalks which carry the lily flower to the surface, and the life-giving energy of the sun.”

BEHIND THE LENS

2020 Collective Portfolio Award, runner-up, Henley Spiers

Henley Spiers United Kingdom (UK)

ABOUT THE IMAGE

  • Taken while scuba diving
  • Morning shoot
  • 20m visibility
  • 27 degrees Celsius water temperature

Henley Spiers, half British and half French, is a renowned photographer, writer, and trip leader who has fast become one of the most highly decorated underwater wildlife shooters in the world. Henley is perhaps best known for his black and white imagery, showcasing the beauty of the aquatic world with distinctive minimalism. Fine art prints of his work now adorn walls around the globe.

MORE IMAGES BY Henley Spiers